Rostotsky will debut his new project Thursday called simply "The Old Songs," "Starye Pesni" -- songs of Soviet composers such as Isaac Dunayevsky and Vladimir Shostakovitch, in jazz arrangements.
"I've always loved old Soviet composers -- they wrote wonderful themes. Even though we perform without vocals, the words of those songs still work, people sing them inside themselves," said Rostotsky, saying composer Nikita Bogoslovsky's "Tri Goda Ti Mne Snilas" ("For Three Years, I've Dreamt About You") was his personal favorite in the program.
Rostotsky will be accompanied by drummer Alexander Mashin and Ivan Formakovsky, a young but well-known pianist.
"I found not only a partner but a fellow Soviet songs lover," Rostotsky said of Formakovsky. "He's done many of the arrangements for our project."
Rostotsky is known for his adventurous choice of projects. Just two months ago, Rostotsky wowed the audience with his jazz rendition of Modest Mussorgsky's suite "Pictures at the Exhibition," which was praised for its unique mixture of symphonic and jazz music.
He is fond of experimenting not only with the music but also with the audience. Keen on combining the aural and the visual, Rostotsky suggests on his web site that people draw to the tunes. He has two videos of drawings being made with ground coffee on glass to the sound of music on the site.
"For me, the visual addition is important. Nowadays, people mainly do mainstream jazz, with its traditions and deep roots. But for me, jazz is a changing music. I want to be different, too."
He has also staged a number concerts that are accompanied by live drawing and/or visual effects.
Alex Rostotsky and his trio will perform May 28 at Igor Butman's Club. 16 Ulansky Pereulok. Metro Chistiye Prudy. Tel. 632-9264. www.alexrostotsky.ru
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